RELIGION

By Mr. Arvind Sirohi

Teaching Assistant
Department of Sociology
Chaudhary Charan Singh University , Meerut
 Introduction:

Like marriage, family and kinship,

religion is another important social
institution. It is also one of the earliest
institutions of human society. Since
ancient days religion has been
influencing human life and human
society both primitive and modern.
 …
• Each and every aspect of human life and
human society bears the influence of religion.
It is very difficult and almost impossible to
trace the exact origin of religion. Sociology of
religion is the study of the beliefs, practices
and organizational forms of religion using the
tools and methods of the discipline
of sociology.
 Definition :

1. Durkheim (1858–1917) defined religion

as a “unified system of beliefs and
practices relative to sacred things”
2. Karl Marx argued that religion “is the
opium of the people”
 ..
3. Max Weber argued that, “religion, seeing it
as a belief in a supernatural power that is
unable to be scientifically explained. In other
words, whether a belief can be considered
religious or not depends on the substance of
what is believed. Religion requires a belief in
God or gods, or other supernatural beliefs”.
4. Sigmund Freud — “Religion is a collective
neurosis.
 ..
• Functions of Religion
The functionalist perspective, which originates
from Emile Durkheim’s work on religion,
highlights the social role of religion.
Work of Religion ..
Durkheim argued that religion is, in a sense, the
celebration and even worship of human society.
Durkheim proposed that religion has three major
functions in society:
1. It provides social cohesion to help maintain social
solidarity through shared rituals and beliefs.
2. Social control to enforce religious‐based morals
and norms to help maintain conformity and control
in society.
3. It offers meaning and purpose to answer any
existential questions.
Religion and Health ..
Certain features of religious practice may facilitate greater
well‐being for members. These include the following:

1. basic social contact

2. a large, non‐family network of social support
3. the positive mental health one derived from optimism and
volunteering,
4. coping strategies to enhance one’s ability to deal with stress
5. a worldview that prevents existential questions from arising
 .
Criticism of religion:
Some criticisms of religion have been given below :
• Religion is wrong as it is in conflict with
science
• Revelations conflict internally
• Conflicting claims about the one true faith
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THANKING YOU